HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that a Schuylkill County man was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of John Brock on August 6, 2015. Joshua Lukach, 22, of John Ohara Street, Pottsville, PA, received a life sentence for second degree murder and also received concurrent sentences of 3½-7 years for criminal trespass and 2½-5 years for access device fraud.
Lukach was originally charged in August 2015 after he admitted to breaking into the victim’s home to steal money from him. A confession by his co-defendant, Shavinskin Thomas, revealed that both defendants cut the victim with knives to make him tell them where his bank card was kept and give them his PIN number. After Lukach called the banks to verify the account information, Thomas slit the victim’s throat and the defendants left him to die.
Lukach was also seen on surveillance video using the victim’s ATM card locally to withdraw $60. Scientific testing revealed that the victim’s blood and Lukach’s DNA were found on a pair of gloves near the victim’s house.
Lukach was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder, burglary, criminal trespass and access device fraud on March 7, 2019.
“The family and friends of the victim have sought justice for more than three years,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “I am proud of the work of my prosecutors and the Pottsville Police Department to deliver that justice to them and ensure that the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
This case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s office. The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Kirsten Heine and Deputy Attorney General Philip McCarthy. The co-defendant, Shavinskin Thomas, was prosecuted by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s office.
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